ups the weirdness factor even more. I don’t know what I expected he’d be in: animal skins, a
toga, naked, but somehow the cargo shorts are more disconcerting. He is barefoot and his feet are normal-sized, not at all like the Tolkien clubs I was anticipating. “How this works if you sit on the floor across from me and relax.
I’m going to touch your forehead and you will be able to see what I can see of your future. A little disclaimer - it’s not always linear and I don’t know if what I am seeing is a certainty or a probability and whether or not it can be changed. I am not a philosopher or a prophet - I am a troll who is probably
going to spend your hundred on beer for the guys. And I definitely can’t guarantee that you are going to like what you see.” I take a deep breath and sit down cross-legged across from him.
“I understand and I’m ready.” I relax my arms at my sides as he places his long-fingered hands against my forehead.
“Now close your eyes.” He presses firmly against my skin and the edges of my vision shimmer before I am plunged into blackness. I open my
eyes to a dark room. It is cave-like, possibly underground, illuminated only by a handful of flickering torches. I am strapped to a table. I try and move my legs but I can’t. Blood runs in a thick stream from my midsection as my hands
wrap around a knife that sticks out of my stomach. I struggle to sit up but I only manage to smear the blood that is pooling beneath me. Blood runs into my eyes and I when I lick the side of my mouth I can also taste blood. A cloaked
figure stands above me in a crimson robe chanting with its arm raised. The pain from the wound in my abdomen is dizzying. I look past to knife in my stomach to see the lifeless bodies of my friends stacked at my feet. Nissa, Cai, and Luca: their eyes are glassy and dull and their throats are chewed out.
I feel Zaros' fingers leave my forehead and I am abruptly pulled back to the present. “Wake up!” He is slapping my cheeks. My eyes fly open and I am staring into his strange yellow eyes. “You’re heart rate was
accelerating and you were getting distressed so I had to stop.” He stands and stuffs his hands into his pockets. I get to my feet slowly but I stumble on the way up. I feel short of breath. Zaros must read my panic because he grabs my
arm to steady me. “Don’t put too much stock into whatever you saw. It is my belief that things can and do change. That’s why our foresight isn’t always power. Sometimes it makes me feel more powerless than anything else.”
Thank you.” I say meekly, avoiding his gaze as I find my way
back to the door.
“Take care of yourself, Lily.” He smiles reassuringly as I pull the door closed behind me. I walk back up the path on unsteady legs. I find Cai and Nissa sitting together on a bench bickering about something like
an old married couple and the image of their lifeless bodies won’t leave my head. Nissa jumps up and rushes over to me.
“How was it? Did you find what you were looking for?” She
searches my face and I look away.
“No, he didn’t see anything about my parents. He’s not what I expected. Zaros seems like a really normal guy - a short, green, future-telling normal guy.” I plaster on the best smile I can muster and they
exchange a look.
“What did he show you?” Cai says anxiously.
“Unfortunately not a lot. There was only a brief flash of the Council and someone in a red robe. It was all pretty uninspired.”
“How disappointing. Perhaps next time.” Nissa visibly relaxes and I nod. “Is everything else okay?” She adds.
“I’m fine. I’m just tired and I’m worried about missing the last ferry. You guys go ahead and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Do you want us to walk you to the dock?” Cai offers and I shake my head.
“It’ll take me five minutes to walk over there. Please don’t worry about me. Go.” I wave them off, hurrying them along before my
toga, naked, but somehow the cargo shorts are more disconcerting. He is barefoot and his feet are normal-sized, not at all like the Tolkien clubs I was anticipating. “How this works if you sit on the floor across from me and relax.
I’m going to touch your forehead and you will be able to see what I can see of your future. A little disclaimer - it’s not always linear and I don’t know if what I am seeing is a certainty or a probability and whether or not it can be changed. I am not a philosopher or a prophet - I am a troll who is probably
going to spend your hundred on beer for the guys. And I definitely can’t guarantee that you are going to like what you see.” I take a deep breath and sit down cross-legged across from him.
“I understand and I’m ready.” I relax my arms at my sides as he places his long-fingered hands against my forehead.
“Now close your eyes.” He presses firmly against my skin and the edges of my vision shimmer before I am plunged into blackness. I open my
eyes to a dark room. It is cave-like, possibly underground, illuminated only by a handful of flickering torches. I am strapped to a table. I try and move my legs but I can’t. Blood runs in a thick stream from my midsection as my hands
wrap around a knife that sticks out of my stomach. I struggle to sit up but I only manage to smear the blood that is pooling beneath me. Blood runs into my eyes and I when I lick the side of my mouth I can also taste blood. A cloaked
figure stands above me in a crimson robe chanting with its arm raised. The pain from the wound in my abdomen is dizzying. I look past to knife in my stomach to see the lifeless bodies of my friends stacked at my feet. Nissa, Cai, and Luca: their eyes are glassy and dull and their throats are chewed out.
I feel Zaros' fingers leave my forehead and I am abruptly pulled back to the present. “Wake up!” He is slapping my cheeks. My eyes fly open and I am staring into his strange yellow eyes. “You’re heart rate was
accelerating and you were getting distressed so I had to stop.” He stands and stuffs his hands into his pockets. I get to my feet slowly but I stumble on the way up. I feel short of breath. Zaros must read my panic because he grabs my
arm to steady me. “Don’t put too much stock into whatever you saw. It is my belief that things can and do change. That’s why our foresight isn’t always power. Sometimes it makes me feel more powerless than anything else.”
Thank you.” I say meekly, avoiding his gaze as I find my way
back to the door.
“Take care of yourself, Lily.” He smiles reassuringly as I pull the door closed behind me. I walk back up the path on unsteady legs. I find Cai and Nissa sitting together on a bench bickering about something like
an old married couple and the image of their lifeless bodies won’t leave my head. Nissa jumps up and rushes over to me.
“How was it? Did you find what you were looking for?” She
searches my face and I look away.
“No, he didn’t see anything about my parents. He’s not what I expected. Zaros seems like a really normal guy - a short, green, future-telling normal guy.” I plaster on the best smile I can muster and they
exchange a look.
“What did he show you?” Cai says anxiously.
“Unfortunately not a lot. There was only a brief flash of the Council and someone in a red robe. It was all pretty uninspired.”
“How disappointing. Perhaps next time.” Nissa visibly relaxes and I nod. “Is everything else okay?” She adds.
“I’m fine. I’m just tired and I’m worried about missing the last ferry. You guys go ahead and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Do you want us to walk you to the dock?” Cai offers and I shake my head.
“It’ll take me five minutes to walk over there. Please don’t worry about me. Go.” I wave them off, hurrying them along before my
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